Environmental impact of noise sources in port areas: a case study

This study shows a survey carried out to characterize the noise due to moored ships in the Civitavecchia port area. A new methodology has been tested by means of short-term measurements on two different kinds of vessel - Ro-Ro ferry and cruise ship - whose results have allowed to characterize their acoustical emissions. The measured sound levels have been analyzed in terms of both frequency spectrum and overall noise levels, also taking into account the effect of sources aboard the ships. The suitability of the chosen methodology as well as its practical implementation to the specific noise source have been discussed.